'Snow White Christmas' Star Olivia Sanabia Explains Panto: 'Boo for the Bad Guys, Cheer for the Good'

Photo by Curtis Brown

If only it was acceptable in life to publicly boo everything we didn’t like — it would definitely make going to the movies more fun, and a lot louder.

Fortunately, the Lythgoe Family Panto is keeping the U.K.’s most raucous holiday season tradition alive with “A Snow White Christmas,” which opens Friday for a limited engagement until Dec. 22 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.

“The best thing about panto is that it’s an interactive experience for everybody — the kids can come and they don’t have to be quiet in their seats,” Disney Channel star Olivia Sanabia, who plays the title role of Snow White, explains. “They can boo the bad guys, cheer for the good ones, and really express themselves. They feel like they’re part of the story and the experience. I love that instant gratification of knowing what the audience thinks.”

The 16-year-old “Coop & Cami Ask the World” actress admitted that she is also a little nervous about the open forum-style theater that dates back to 16th century Britain. “I’ve never experienced having the audience talk back to you when you’re on a stage, so it’s definitely going to be new for me,” she said.

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With a cast that includes Grammy winner Michelle Williams as the Wicked Queen, Jared Gertner (Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon”), Garrett Clayton (“Teen Beach Movie,” “Hairspray Live!”), Michael Campion (Netflix’s “Fuller House”), and Tony Award-winner Neil Patrick Harris as the On Screen Magic Mirror, the audience should have nothing to grumble about when it comes to the performances.

While Harris’ part as the Mirror were pre-recorded, Sanabia had plenty of praise for her on-stage nemesis, Destiny’s Child alum Williams. “She plays the most evil character but in the most lovable way possible because she is such a wonderful person. Getting to hear her sing every day is just a true pleasure, everyone stopped what they were doing during rehearsals just to listen to her,” Sanabia gushed.

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The British-born Lythgoe family is credited for introducing U.S. audiences to the nuances of panto, with “Snow White” marking their 10th annual production. “They did such a fantastic job of bringing the phenomenon over here to America and teaching everyone what this is,” Sanabia told TheWrap. “It’s a really special thing for the holidays and I think there should be more shows that involve the whole family. There is something for everyone, so I am very proud to be part of it and proud of the Lythgoes for what they are doing.

“Another amazing part of panto is that it is a musical but it’s combined with contemporary pop songs, so they are songs that kids, teenagers and even the parents know,” she continued, along with dance performances from “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni.

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Along with her acting credits that include Amazon’s “Just Add Magic,” Sanabia released her debut single “Stars Crossed,” last month, which she says was “deeply inspired by my love of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ — it’s an alternate take on the timeless classic.” Currently playing the dream role of her favorite princess, Snow White, her next bucket list role is to play Shakespeare’s famous female protagonist, Juliet Capulet.

“A Snow White Christmas” is directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and choreographed by Emmy Award winners Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo (NappyTabs), with book by Kris Lythgoe. The production has music supervision, arrangements, and musical direction by Michael Orland. Casting is by executive producer Becky Lythgoe and Andrew Lynford, CSA.

26 Stars Who Only Need a Grammy to EGOT, From Liza Minnelli to Al Pacino (Photos)

The EGOT -- an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony -- is the greatest honor in entertainment. These stars are (or were) close to achieving it.
Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982)

Emmy: Single Performance by an Actress, "Startime" (1960); Actress in Limited Series or Special, "A Woman Called Golda" (1982)

Oscar: Actress, "Gaslight" (1944); Actress, "Anastasia" (1956); Supporting Actress, "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974)

Tony: Actress (Dramatic), "Joan of Lorraine" (1947)
Liza Minnelli (1946 - )

Emmy: Single Program - Variety and Popular Music, "Liza With a Z" (1973)

Oscar: Actress, "Cabaret" (1973)

Tony: Actress in a Musical, "Flora, the Red Menace" (1965); Actress, "The Act" (1978)
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Ellen Burstyn (1932 - )

Emmy: Guest Actress in Drama Series, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2009); Supporting Actress in Miniseries or Movie, "Political Animals" (2013)

Oscar: Actress, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974)

Tony: Actress in a Play, "Same Time, Next Year" (1975)
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Jeremy Irons (1948 - )

Emmy: Voiceover Performance, "The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century" (1997); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, "Elizabeth I" (2006); Narrator, "Big Cat Week" (2014)

Oscar: Actor, "Reversal of Fortune" (1990)

Tony: Actor in a Play, "The Real Thing" (1984)
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Anne Bancroft (1931-2005)

Emmy: Variety or Musical Program - Variety and Popular Music, "Annie, The Women in the Life of a Man" (1970)

Oscar: Actress, "The Miracle Worker" (1962)

Tony: Supporting Actress in a Play, "Two for the Seesaw" (1958); Actress in a Play, "The Miracle Worker" (1960)
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Viola Davis (1965 - )

Emmy: Actress in a Drama Series, "How to Get Away With Murder" (2015)

Oscar: Actress, "Fences" (2016)

Tony: Featured Actress in a Play, "King Hedley II" (2001); Actress in a Play, "Fences" (2010)
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Bob Fosse (1927-1987)

Emmy: Choreography, Directing, Single Program - Variety and Popular Music, "Liza With a Z" (1973)

Oscar: Director, "Cabaret" (1972)

Tony: Choreographer, "The Pajama Game" (1955); "Damn Yankees" (1956); "Redhead" (1959); "Little Me" (1963); "Sweet Charity" (1966); "Pippin" (1973); "Dancin'" (1978); "Big Deal" (1986); Director, "Pippin" (1973)
Frances McDormand (1957 - )

Emmy: 2 prizes for producing and starring in Limited Series or a Movie, "Olive Kitteridge" (2015)

Oscar (2): Actress, "Fargo" (1996); "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017)

Tony: Actress in a Play, "Good People" (2011)
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Helen Mirren (1945 - )

Emmy: Actress in a Miniseries or a Special, "Prime Suspect" (1996); Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, "The Passion of Ayn Rand" (1999); Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, "Elizabeth I" (2006); Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act" (2007)

Oscar: Actress, "The Queen" (2006)

Tony: Actress in a Play, "The Audience" (2015)
Jessica Lange (1949 - )

Emmy (3): Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, "Grey Gardens" (2009); "American Horror Story" (2012 and 2014)

Oscar (2): Supporting Actress, "Tootsie" (1982); Actress, "Blue Sky" (1994)

Tony: Actress, "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (2016)
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Jason Robards (1922-2000)

Emmy: Actor in a Miniseries or a Special, "Inherit the Wind" (1988)

Oscar: Supporting Actor, "All the President's Men" (1976); Supporting Actor, "Julia" (1977)

Tony: Actor in a Play, "The Disenchanted" (1959)
Al Pacino (1940 -)

Emmy: Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, "Angels in America" (2004) and "You Don't Know Jack" (2010)

Oscar: Actor, "Scent of a Woman" (1992)

Tony: Supporting Actor in a Play, "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?" (1969); Actor, "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" (1979)

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Christopher Plummer (1929 - )

Emmy (2): Actor in a Limited Series,
"Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers" (1977); Voiceover Performance, "Madeline" (1994)

Oscar: Supporting Actor, "The Beginners" (2011)

Tony (2): Actor in a Musical, "Cyrano" (1974); Actor in a Play, "Barrymore" (1997)
Vanessa Redgrave (1937 - )

Emmy (2): Actress in a Limited Series or a Special, "Playing for Time" (1981); Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, "If These Walls Could Talk 2" (2000)

Oscar: Supporting Actress, "Julia" (1977)

Tony: Actress, "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (2003)
Geoffrey Rush (1951 - )

Emmy: Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie,
"The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" (2005)

Oscar: Actor, "Shine" (1996)

Tony: Actor in a Play, "Exit the King" (2009)
Maggie Smith (1934 - )

Emmy: Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
"My House in Umbria" (2003); Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, "Downton Abbey" (2011, 2012 and 2016)

Oscar: Actress, "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969); Supporting Actress, "California Suite" (1978)

Tony: Actress, "Lettice and Lovage" (1990)
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Glenda Jackson (1936 - )

Emmy (2):
Outstanding Single and Continued Performance by a Lead Actress, "Elizabeth R" (1971)

Oscar (2): Best Actress, "Women in Love" (1970) and "A Touch of Class" (1973)

Tony: Best Actress in a Play, "Three Tall Women" (2018)
Tony Walton (1934 - )

Emmy: Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special, "Death of a Salesman" (1986)

Oscar: Art Direction, "All That Jazz" (1979)

Tony: Scenic Designer, "Pippin" (1973); Scenic Designer, "The House of Blue Leaves" (1986); "Guys and Dolls" (1992)
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Maureen Stapleton (1925-2006)

Emmy: Single Performance by an Actress in a Drama, "Among the Paths to Eden" (1968)

Oscar: Supporting Actress, "Reds" (1981)

Tony: Supporting Actress in a Play, "The Rose Tattoo" (1951); Actress in a Play, "The Gingerbread Lady" (1971)
Thomas Mitchell (1892-1962)

Emmy: Actor, NBC (1953)

Oscar: Supporting Actor, "Stagecoach" (1939)

Tony: Actor in a Musical, "Hazel Flagg" (1953)
Melvyn Douglas (1901-1981)

Emmy: Single Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Drama, "CBS Playhouse" (1968)

Oscar: Supporting Actor, "Hud" (1963); Supporting Actor, "Being There" (1979)

Tony: Actor in a Play, "The Best Man" (1960)
Shirley Booth (1898-1992)

Emmy: Actress in a Series, "Hazel" (1962 and 1963)

Oscar: Actress, "Come Back, Little Sheba" (1952)

Tony: Supporting Actress in a Play, "Goodbye, My Fancy" (1949); Actress in a Play, "Come Back, Little Sheba" (1950); Actress in a Play, "Time of the Cuckoo" (1953)
Jessica Tandy (1909-1994)

Emmy: Actress in a Miniseries or a Special,
"Foxfire" (1987)

Oscar: Actress, "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989)

Tony: Actress in a Drama, "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1948); "The Gin Game" (1978); "Foxfire" (1983)
Jack Albertson (1907-1981)

Emmy: Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music, "Cher" (1975); Actor in Comedy Series, "Chico and the Man" (1976)

Oscar: Supporting Actor, "The Subject Was Roses" (1968)

Tony: Supporting Actor, "The Subject Was Roses" (1965)
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Ralph Burns (1922-2001)

Emmy: Music Direction, "Baryshnikov on Broadway" (1980)

Oscar: Scoring, Adaptation and Original Song Score, "Cabaret" (1972); Original Song Score/Adaptation Score, "All That Jazz" (1979)

Tony: Orchestrations, "Fosse" (1999); Orchestrations, "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (2002)
Paul Scofield (1922–2008)

Emmy: Single Performance by a Lead Actor, "Male of the Species" (1969)

Oscar: Actor, "A Man for All Seasons" (1966)

Tony: Actor in a Play, "A Man for All Seasons" (1962)
So who has made the cut? Here are all of the stars who have achieved EGOT status, from Audrey Hepburn to Whoopi Goldberg.

Also Read: All 12 EGOT Winners, From Audrey Hepburn to Whoopi Goldberg (Photos)